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ALLISON

A llison is still shaking inside and really hopes she is doing a good job at hiding it. That creep had been all over her like a fucking octopus. She’d told him no, repeatedly, but he just wasn’t getting the message. She’d been so afraid when he’d grabbed her from behind. Allison has been fortunate to never have been attacked, but she remembers vividly Emma’s rape and how she’d looked and been afterward. It has been a big reason she’s worked so hard to uncover the sex trafficking ring.

Allison had had an intense fear of being attacked, like Emma, when she’d returned home to San Diego after seeing Emma all those years ago. Her boyfriend, at the time, hadn’t cared. Instead, he’d done a real number on her, insisting they go out to the seediest of clubs. Never once had he defended her when she’d been hit on by some sleaze ball. He’d even seemed to enjoy seeing other men grope her. Even while knowing what had happened to Emma and how it had made Allison feel.

Russell coming to her defense, even though she hadn’t needed him, has shattered the cage she’s kept her heart hidden in the last few years.

She turns, looking up at him in adoration. “It was nice to have someone there, to know I wasn’t alone if he didn’t stay down.”

“I would have beaten his ass if he’d tried to touch you again,” Russell seethes. Allison’s adoration for him grows at his willingness to defend her. “I’m glad you can protect yourself, but I really wanted to teach that guy a lesson.”

“Me too!” Susie Beth chimes in. “You are a badass, Allison. I want to be you when I grow up!” Everyone gathered around them laughs, knowing the women are basically the same age.

“I seriously doubt you want to be me,” Allison chuckles, trying to keep her tone light. “I’m a workaholic with zero social life. You are much too pretty to be on your own all the time.” Allison’s mouth snaps shut. She hadn’t intended to be that honest about herself.

“Oh, Allison!” Emma pulls her out of Russell’s embrace to hug her tight. “I knew you couldn’t be happy out there without any family around. I don’t want to sound like our aunts, but you need to be near people who love you and want the best for you.”

Allison doesn’t reply. What is there to say? Emma is right, but there is no way Allison can move back home with her parents, nor could she find work to make a decent living in the little town where she’d grown up. She isn’t happy in San Diego anymore, hasn’t been for years, but where would she go? What would she do for a living?

Straightening up from Emma’s embrace, Allison puts on her poker face. She can’t do anything about it right now, and she’s already caused enough trouble for Emma at her bachelorette party.

“Now, Emma, don’t go worrying about me,” Allison insists. “I promise I’m fine. I love my job, and I live in a decent part of town. I just meant that Susie Beth should be out meeting a nice guy.” Allison groans. “Oh, God! I sound like Aunt Jenny.” Emma throws her head back and laughs. Allison joins her.

“Yes, you were channeling her hard core,” Emma wheezes out between laughs. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m ready to call it a night. It’s been a long day.” Allison is in full agreement. She needs to shut down for a little while and get her mind off the attack.

Half an hour later, the posse arrives back at the hotel. Everyone begins to break off, either going to their rooms or heading to the hotel bar for another drink. Allison just wants to get away from everyone. She heads to the elevator and presses the button.

“You turning in, sugar?” Russell’s voice rumbles in her ear, causing goosebumps to erupt over her. His hand slides along her back, coming to rest on her hip. Without conscious thought, she leans into his warmth without answering.

The elevator doors slide open. Russell guides her inside. They face the doors. He presses the button for their floor. Then, they’re alone in the small space. “How are you doing?” Russell prompts when she remains silent.

“I…I’m okay,” she answers, trying for honesty. “It’s just I can still feel his hands on me and the fear of what he intended to do if I hadn’t fought back.” Allison shivers. Memories of Emma lying in bed, staring at nothing for days, refusing to talk or eat. Then when the shock had worn off, the wailing, from the reality of what she’d suffered. “I know the guy was drunk, and he likely just wanted me to dance with him. I don’t know that he would have forced himself on me, but I was intensely afraid that was his intention.”

“That is understandable,” Russell assures her. “He had no right to touch you in the first place, and then when you said no and he continued? That crossed a line. I can understand why you were afraid and why you’re still a bit freaked out.”

“Thank you for understanding.” The elevator dings, sounding their arrival to their floor. They step out together, making their way to Allison’s door. She pauses, turning to him. She has no right to ask what she’s about to, but she needs this. “I can’t have sex with you tonight, not after what happened. I’m sorry.”

“I know, sugar.” Russell steps closer. His hand cradling her face. “Never apologize for telling me what you need.” He places a gentle kiss on her lips before stepping back. His hand falls to his side. His body is all coiled muscle. Allison can feel his reluctance to leave her.

“It isn’t fair of me to ask”—Allison pauses, gathering her courage—“but would you stay with me tonight? Just hold me?” Russell’s body relaxes, a smile playing on his lips. He takes her keycard from her hand, unlocks her door, and ushers her inside.

Once the door is closed, Russell urges her toward the bed. He begins to remove her clothing. There is nothing sexual about his behavior. Slowly, he unzips her dress allowing it to slip off her shoulders and pool at her feet. Reaching behind her, he unclasps her bra, slipping the straps off her shoulders and letting it fall to the floor.

Allison watches in fascination as he kicks off his shoes and pulls his t-shirt off before slipping it over her head, cocooning her in the fabric. It’s still warm from his body heat. She stifles a moan. It feels so good to be in his clothes.

Russell picks up her discarded clothing and pitches it toward a chair. She is too distracted by his next actions to see if they land or not. Russell steps out of his jeans, but leaves his boxer-briefs on. Reaching behind her, Russell pulls the bed covers back and motions for her to slide in. She complies, scooting over more when she feels his body following her into the bed.

Wrapping her in his arms, he pulls her body flush with his. Her head rests on his broad, firm pec. She sighs softly, feeling warm and safe. “Sleep well, sugar. I’m here if you need me.” Tears well up in Allison’s eyes. She knows this isn’t how he’d hoped their night would go, but the fact he is willing to stay with her knowing sex is off the table speaks volumes to her about his character as a man.

“Goodnight, Russell,” she whispers, pressing a kiss to his chest. Then she settles down over the spot. Sleep comes much sooner than she would have expected. Just knowing he is here makes surrendering to sleep that much easier.

The next morning Allison awakes still wrapped up in Russell’s arms. At some point they’ve changed positions. She’s on her left side with him spooning her from behind. Allison feels completely surrounded by his warmth and his strength.

“Good morning, sugar,” Russell murmurs in her ear, pressing a kiss to the side of her neck, instantly causing desire to flare in her lower regions.

She turns to face him. “Good morning, Russell.” She wants to kiss him, but she’s worried about morning breath. He doesn’t seem concerned, though. He captures her lips. His tongue begging entrance, which she eagerly accepts.

The kiss turns hot and wild, an intense exploration with tongues that leads to hands getting in on the action. All too soon, Russell breaks the kiss, tucking her into his side. She snuggles into his chest, not yet wanting to face the day.

Emma has a hike planned for them with a picnic up on the mountain. Allison has become a city girl during her years in California. She isn’t relishing the idea of a five-mile trek through the woods, climbing up the side of a mountain, just to eat cold sandwiches, fresh vegetables, and fruit. She’d much rather stay at the hotel in bed with Russell, but she knows that isn’t going to happen, not today.

“We need to get up, sugar,” Russell reminds her. “We don’t want a repeat of yesterday morning.” He chuckles, but Allison doesn’t see the humor in it. She’d been the one to endure her cousins and later Aunt Jenny and Aunt Lettie giving her a morals lecture. Not fun!

Allison sighs but lifts her head. “Yes, we don’t need that.” Allison gives him one last quick kiss before slipping out of bed. “I suppose I need to return your shirt so you don’t have to do the walk of shame bare chested.” She gives him a questioning look. He smirks, sending her into a fit of giggles.

“It’s no walk of shame, sugar,” Russell insists. “When we have sex, it’ll be a walk of pride that I finally convinced you to let me have you. Keep the shirt. I like knowing you have something of mine.” An unspoken message passes between them, briefly.

Allison isn’t sure what he is trying to say with his eyes, but it feels like a promise of more than a quick fuck. She shakes her head being sure she’d misunderstood. They clearly couldn’t have more than that, right?

“Hey.” She looks. He is right in front of her. “Where’d you go just now?”

“It’s nothing,” she answers with a smile. “Just letting my mind wander. You better get going.” She tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek. “I’ll see you at breakfast?”

“Yeah, I’ll save you a seat.” He gives her one more toe-curling kiss before pulling on his jeans and heading for the door with his shoes in his hand. Allison can’t keep from smiling while watching him open the door. He turns back to see her watching him. “Enjoying the view?”

He doesn’t wait for her reply, just gives her a wink and closes the door. Allison strips off his t-shirt, dropping it into her open suitcase. She heads for the bathroom to get ready for the hiking trip.

“Fucking hell!” Allison whispers, a couple hours later, followed by a loud grunt. She is trying to pull herself up a particularly steep part of the trail. Small trees are growing along the side, but they aren’t much help. Firm hands land on either side of her ass, giving her a boost. She shoots an annoyed look over her shoulder. Russell, who has been helping her all day, gives her a wink. She should be grateful, but she isn’t. Just annoyed.

When she’d grown up in this part of the world, she’d been a tomboy. She and Emma could outdo most of the boys when it came to outdoor activities. Now, however, Allison is coming to realize hitting the gym a couple times a week isn’t enough to keep up her fitness level.

“You’re doing great, sugar,” Russell says encouragingly, but it does nothing to boost Allison’s mood. She’s hot, tired, and very cranky. She huffs a big breath, blowing stray hair out of her eyes. “Let’s take a break, yeah?”

She shoots daggers at him with her eyes, but follows him to the side of the trail, where he directs her to a large flat rock, just the right height to sit on. Russell pulls a canteen from his backpack. He twists off the top before handing it to her. She rolls her eyes but accepts the canteen, taking a drink. She hands it back, and he takes a long pull from it, then replaces the cap.

“How much farther, Papa Smurf?” she asks, knowing the answer she’s going to get. They’ve been playing at this all day.

“Not far now,” Russell grins with his reply. Allison shakes her head but grins in return. She’d been delighted when she discovered Russell liked the original Smurfs cartoon. They’d only been on the hike for about fifteen minutes when she’d cheekily asked, ‘How much farther, Papa Smurf?’ Emma had laughed at Allison’s reference to the 80’s cartoon the two of them had watched reruns of as children. Russell had answered with a “Not far now” which had sent both women into a fit of laughter. Allison had kept it up for the rest of the hike.

“All right, Papa Smurf,” she says, rising to her feet. “Let’s get on with it. I don’t want to be the weakest link.” Russell laughs, taking the hand she offers to pull him to his feet.

“I think you’re swapping shows on me,” he accuses, good-naturedly.

“Yeah, yeah,” she waves her hands around. “Sue me, okay? I’m too pooped to come up with a Smurf line that fits this situa—ahhhh!” she squeals when Russell sweeps her up into his arms, carrying her bridal style up the steep trail. “What the hell are you doing?” she demands. “I’m much too heavy for you to be carrying me on this trail. You’re going to hurt yourself and likely me in the process!”

“You’re light as a feather, sugar,” Russell assures her. “I’ve carried much more weight on much longer hikes before.”

“You’ve carried women before?” A sharp bite of jealousy shooting through her like a sharp knife. She could just imagine some tall, beautiful woman in his strong, capable arms.

Russell shakes his head, a huge grin on his smug, handsome face. “I said weight, sugar, not woman.” She narrows her eyes at him, scrunching her nose. “In drills and on deployments, we hike ten miles or more at a time with full gear on. Trust me when I tell you, carrying you isn’t a burden. I’m rather enjoying having you in my arms.”

Warmth spreads through her body settling in her chest. An overwhelming feeling of happiness brings a smile to her face. She tucks her head against his shoulder to hide it. No need to give the arrogant bastard a bigger ego.

“You were jealous thinking I’d carried other women like this,” he accuses, a few minutes later. Sending her happy mood on a sharp downward trajectory.

“I was not!” She lies. “You think much too much of yourself, caveman.” Russell chuckles, shifting her a little higher in his arms. “You really should put me down. The trail is leveling out now.”

A grunt is her only reply as he continues to carry her along. They’re making much better time now that he isn’t having to help her. Rounding a bend in the trail, Allison sees the dense foliage is thinning, opening up into a clearing. Emma and the others in their group are almost to it.

“Please, Russell, put me down,” Allison begs. “I don’t want Gloria reporting back to Aunt Jenny and Aunt Lettie I was being a damsel in distress.” He gives her an exasperated look.

“As you wish,” he says, imitating Wesley from The Princess Bride. Allison giggles. He lowers one arm allowing her feet to hit the ground. Keeping his arm around her back, He steadies her until he is certain she can stand on her own.

“Thank you,” she whispers, looking up at him. Their bodies are so close, touching from chest to toes. Flickers of desire dart through her. Licking her lips, her gaze drops to Russell’s lips. A salacious grin spreads over them just before they crash into hers. The kiss, like all they’ve shared, is hot and wild. Russell pulls her closer, but he doesn’t need to, because she’s pressing herself into him as close as she can get.

The clearing of a throat behind them ruins the moment. Russell pulls back, leaving Allison dazed and breathless. “Excuse me,” a male voice says. “Sorry to interrupt, but we’d like to pass by.”

Allison peers around Russell to see an older gentleman with greying hair holding hands with a silver-haired woman standing on the trail behind them. The couple is grinning knowingly at Allison and Russell. “Oh, of course,” Russell readily agrees, urging Allison to the edge of the path. “Sorry about that.” Russell’s face is flushing a little which Allison finds adorable. She is certain her own face is pickled beet red.

“Don’t be sorry, young man,” the woman says, as the older couple walks by. “We might be old, but we haven’t forgotten what it’s like to be young and in love. Enjoy the honeymoon while you can. Once the children come along, those moments are harder to come by.”